A Key West man is under arrest, charged with breaking into his ex-wife’s residence, damaging her property then attacking her and her current boyfriend at her place of work.

50 year old George Rodriguez is accused of going to his ex-wife’s house and entering it without permission. Once inside, he took a 65 inch flat screen television and threw it over the balcony into the driveway. Witnesses say as he left the residence, he drove over the television with his truck, destroying it.

Rodriguez also confronted his ex-wife at her place of business, grabbing her by the hair and hitting her. He also confronted her current boyfriend. The two got into a fight. During their struggle, Rodriguez attempted to hit the boyfriend’s head on a metal truck bumper. An employee of the business had to pull the two apart.

Deputies responded to both the house, on Sugarloaf Key, and the business on Rockland Key. They found Rodriguez still at the business. He was placed under arrest. He was charged with aggravated assault, battery, criminal mischief and burglary. He was booked into jail.

New Smyrna man arrested for drugs

Islamorada – A New Smyrna man was arrested on drug charges after he was found to have been driving with a suspended license.

A resident of Fontaine Drive called the Sheriff’s Office to report a car was parked blocking his driveway at 8:15 a.m. Monday. When deputies arrived, they found 43 year old Steven Polak standing near his blue Volvo. They asked Polak what he was doing there and Polak said he was waiting for a friend named “Mike”. Polak gave Deputy Ray Jodlowski the spelling of his name as “Pollack”. A check of that name came back as having a license suspension in 2007.

A search of his vehicle turned up an unlabeled prescription bottle with 28 Xanax pills, 3 Klonopin pills and 3 Restoril pills inside. Cocaine was found hidden inside a cigarette pack.

Polak was arrested and taken to jail. Once at the jail, Polak spelled his name with one “l” for Corrections Officers who were booking him. Deputy Jodlowski overheard him and confronted him about it. The deputy asked him why he gave him a false name and Polak said “I did not think you would check”.

Polak was charged with driving with a suspended license, possession of cocaine, three counts possession of a controlled substance without a prescription and resisting arrest.

April 29, 2013

Man found dead in dinghy is identified

A man whose body was found Friday in an inflatable dinghy offshore of Islamorada near Shell Key has been identified.

The body was found by two boaters. There was no identification found with the body and there were no signs of foul play in evidence. On Saturday evening, the manager of Dominos Pizza in Tavernier told Sgt. Mark Coleman an employee, 67 year old Robert Newbold, had not shown up for work. Newbold fit the description of the body found, and was known to live on board a sailboat anchored offshore of Islamorada.

Today, the Medical Examiner’s Office made positive identification of the body as that of Newbold. His family was notified of his death.

Three homes destroyed, others damaged in Key Largo fire

Key Largo – A residential fire on Garden State Lane in Key Largo destroyed three homes and damaged others Sunday.

The fire appears to have started just after 1:30 p.m. at 716 Garden State Lane. It quickly spread to homes on either side, at 714 and 718. Other homes in the area sustained heat and smoke damage as well. Deputy E.B. Askins was first on the scene and checked surrounding structures to make sure no one was inside.

Firefighters responded from Key Largo, Tavernier, Ocean reef and Miami-Dade County. A boat from Sea Tow in Key Largo also worked the fire, spraying canal water on docked boats and other structures behind the homes.

None of the destroyed homes were occupied at the time of the fires. All the homes were second homes, but all of the owners did respond to the scene. The fires were extinguished by 5 p.m.

The Fire Marshall’s office will be investigating the cause of the fire.

Fire at Fiesta Key KOA

Fire broke out in a small wooden building at near the marina at Fiesta Key KOA at the 70 mile marker of the highway early Sunday.

A man staying on a vessel at the campground marina told Deputy Chuck Kellenberger he noticed smoke coming from the structure at the marina and called to report it at 5:40 a.m. The structure houses a Kite board rental business, a Laundromat and a storage area.

Firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze with the most damage occurring to the storage room and the kite boarding business.

The Fire Marshall’s Office will be investigating the cause of the fire.

April 27, 2013

Man found dead in dinghy offshore

Sheriff’s detectives are investigating the death of a man found in an inflatable dinghy offshore of Islamorada.

Detectives say there were no obvious signs of foul play found on the body. Two people on a flats boat in the vicinity of Shell Key found him at noon on Friday and called the Sheriff’s Office.

The U.S. Coast Guard responded and brought the dinghy and it’s occupant back to shore. An autopsy will be done to determine the cause of his death. He had no identification, and detectives do not yet know who he is. He is described as a white male, approximately 5’10” tall, 180 pounds.

Woman charged with burglary

A Rockland Key woman was charged with burglary after she entered another woman’s home without permission and attacked her.

The victim said she was in her laundry room in her Rockland Key home at 9:30 a.m. Friday when Magalys Gelys walked in, uninvited. She slapped the victim in the face and told her to stay away from her husband.

When the victim’s 3 year old daughter tried to intervene, Gelys allegedly pushed her away, into a wall. She then threatened the victim, telling her she was going to report her to “Immigration” and have her deported and she would never see her daughter again.

When Deputy Lazaro Valdes arrived, the victim had a swollen red face allegedly from being slapped and the child was scared and crying.

The suspect was found nearby at her place of work and was arrested. She was charged with burglary with battery on the occupant and she was booked into jail.

April 26, 2013

RV burned on Rockland Key

Rockland Key – A small recreational vehicle parked at 529 Park Drive on Rockland Key caught fire in the early morning hours today.

The fire was reported to Sheriff’s dispatchers at 4:05 a.m. A neighbor called to report seeing flames. She said her husband was checking to see if anyone was inside.

Deputies and firefighters arrived a short time later and learned the trailer was just used for storage and no one was inside. Firefighters reported the fire was knocked down by 4:22 a.m. The fire marshals office will be investigating the cause of the fire.

Search warrant in Marathon

Marathon - Sheriff's Special Investigations detectives served a search warrant this afternoon at a Marathon residence.

The warrant was served at 1337 Ocean Breeze Blvd, Lot 33 in Marathon. Detectives located two men, 26 year old Hiram Cancel and 21 year old Oscar R. Gamez-Cardoma, in the front patio area of the trailer.

The search of the trailer turned up 20 prepackaged plastic bags containing a total of eight grams of cocaine. During the time detectives were searching the trailer, Gamez-Cardoma, a resident of Guatemala, attempted to escape. He was detained and take to the Customs and Border Protection station to be processed. Also during the search, Cancel, who was handcuffed, ran down the street to lot 47. When Cancel was captured, detectives noticed two marijuana plant growing at lot 47 behind the trailer. The owner of the property 30 year old Justo Angel Morera Cabrera was arrested for cultivation of marijuana.

Cancel was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, and resisting without violence.

Gamez-Cardoma was turned over to Customs and Border Protection for remaining in the United States without proper documentation.

Morera Cabrera was charged with cultivation of marijuana.

April 25, 2013

Detectives investigating four business burglaries

Islamorada – Sheriff’s detectives are investigating four business burglaries in the Islamorada area which they believe to be connected due to similarities in the crimes.

The burglaries took place between March 4th and April 22nd, all in the area between the 80 and the 88.5 mile markers of highway U.S. One. During that time period, suspects used force to enter the businesses, and took computer equipment from inside each one.

Surveillance cameras inside one of the businesses captured photos of a person believed to be the suspect in these crimes.

Anyone with information about these cases should contact the Sheriff’s Office. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tip called in to Crime Stoppers leads to an arrest in the case, the caller would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

Deputies responded to reports yesterday of four vehicle burglaries on Stock Island, in the Key Haven neighborhood as well as a burglary report at Murray Marine in the same area.

Vehicle owners called Tuesday morning to report someone had rummaged through their cars overnight, taking small items including cash and phone chargers.

The owner of Murray Marine reported someone had entered the main building at the Marina and had cut padlocks off of storage lockers used by boat captains to store their belongings. A large amount of equipment was stolen from those lockers including many high-end rods and reels.

Detectives have been assigned to investigate.

Anyone with information about any of these cases could receive a substantial cash reward by calling Crime Stoppers. If a tip called in to Crime Stoppers leads to an arrest, the caller would be eligible to receive the reward. Callers may remain anonymous. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may also be submitted anonymously on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

April 21, 2013

Another man charged in connection with Stock Island gun theft

A Stock Island man was charged Friday in connection with the investigation into the theft of 17 guns from a RV parked on Stock Island.

William “Billy” Ray was shown on surveillance video at his 3rd Avenue apartment with Amado Cardenas, who was arrested earlier in the week in connection with the case. Investigations revealed Cardenas brought a semi-automatic rifle to Ray’s apartment on April 13th and left it there for a short time. Cardenas then returned that same day, retrieving and selling it and second rifle to another man. Those guns were recovered from the purchaser after he learned from Sheriff’s detectives that they were stolen.

Ray, who has 11 felony convictions on his record and is currently on probation was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. He was booked into jail.

Traffic stop leads to drug charges

Key Largo – A traffic stop early today led to the arrest of a Tavernier man on drug charges.

Deputy Pedro Garcia was at the 108 mile marker at 1:30 a.m. when he spotted a car southbound with the tag light and one tail light out. He stopped the car at the 106 mile marker.

He recognized the driver, 35 year old Luis Estevez from a previous traffic stop and knew he did not have a valid driver’s license. Estevez was arrested. He was charged with driving his license suspended. A check of his record revealed he had six prior convictions for the same offense.

Deputy Garcia could smell the odor of marijuana in the vehicle. A search turned up a small amount of marijuana in the center console. He also found a plastic bag with 15 grams of Cocaine inside, along with a metal spoon and a syringe – items commonly used to ingest drugs.

Estevez was further charged with possession of cocaine, marijuana and drug paraphernalia. He was booked into jail.

April 19, 2013

Man arrested for making threats

A Stock Island man whose license was suspended for failing to pay child support was arrested today after saying he wanted to blow up the Child Support Enforcement offices. Key West Police and the Sheriff’s Office worked together to apprehend the man quickly and safely.

53 year old Steven Hamley was in the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles on South Roosevelt Boulevard at 12:30 p.m. today. He’d learned his license was suspended the night before, during a traffic stop on Stock Island, and he’d reportedly gone to DHSMV to try to get it reinstated. While there, he was told it had been suspended for failure to pay child support. When he heard that, Hamley reportedly told the clerk he would like to blow up the Child Support Enforcement offices.

DHSMV employees told him to leave their office. He left, then returned a few minutes later and apologized for saying it. They asked him to leave again and then called Key West Police to report the threatening comment.

Key West Police responded to an address on Flagler Avenue which their dispatch had listed as the Child Support Enforcement offices. People working there told the officers Child Support Enforcement had moved to the Florida State building in Marathon. At that point, the Sheriff’s Office was notified and deputies responded to the Florida State building in Marathon to ensure those offices were safe.

Deputies removed employees from the building and checked it for any suspicious packages or explosives. Finding none, they allowed everyone back inside.

In the meantime, Key West Police had obtained Hamley’s identity and put it out, along with his picture, to all law enforcement officers in the county in an attempt to find him. Sheriff’s dispatchers were able to track down a cell phone number for Hamley and gave the number to Detective Sgt. Donald Catala. Sgt. Catala called Hamley on the phone and asked him if he was all right. He asked Hamley to meet him somewhere so they could talk. Hamley told Sgt. Catala he was at the intersection of Eagle Avenue and State Road A1A.

Hamley was apprehended at that intersection just 45 minutes after initially making his threatening comments. He reportedly again apologized to officers as they arrested him. He was taken to jail by Key West Police Officer Julio Gomez. He was charged with making a bomb threat.

April 17, 2013

Another arrest, two more guns recovered

Stock Island – Detectives continue to investigate the burglary of a recreational vehicle parked on Stock Island and the theft of guns from inside. Another arrest has been made and two more guns recovered in the case.

A total of 17 guns – handguns, rifles and shotguns – were stolen; 13 have now been recovered. On Tuesday evening, 47 year old Amado Cardenas, Jr. of Stock Island was arrested after detectives received information he’d sold two guns to another man. The man who purchased the guns agreed to cooperate with the investigation and turned the guns over to detectives. The Bushmaster assault rifle and the Colt .45 caliber rifle were positively identified as two of the stolen guns. The man said he paid $100 for the assault rifle and $50 for the other gun. He said when he asked Cardenas why the guns were so inexpensive, Cardenas told him he was selling them for a friend who needed money.

Cardenas –who has eight felony convictions on his record – was charged with two counts each of possession of two firearms by a convicted felon and dealing in stolen property.

Search warrant on Stock Island

Stock Island – Sheriff’s detectives from the Special Investigations Unit arrested two people today on drug charges after serving a search warrant on a Stock Island residence.

At 6:30 a.m., detectives served the warrant at 6336 2nd Street Apt 6. Inside, detectives located 31 year old Keyonbie Humphrey and 30 year old Damien Reynard Humphrey inside the apartment.

The search turned up a whole crack cocaine “cookie”. A “cookie” can yield up to 50 crack rocks. They also found five large pieces of crack cocaine prepackaged for sale. A total of $1,521 in suspected drug proceeds were seized for possible forfeiture.

Keyonbie Humphrey was charged with possession of cocaine. Damien Humphrey was charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute. Both men were booked into jail.

April 16, 2013

Arrests made in connection with large number of stolen guns

A large number of guns were stolen during a burglary of a recreational vehicle parked on Stock Island. Detectives investigating the case arrested three people in connection with the crime, recovering all but five of the stolen guns.

The victim called the Sheriff’s Office in the early morning hours Monday to report his guns were gone from his RV. He said he last saw them on April 10th. Investigations revealed suspects had entered the RV by breaking a rear window. In addition to the 16 stolen rifles, shotguns and handguns, suspects also took a laptop computer, a flat screen television, a cross bow and a large amount of various types of ammunition.

Multiple detectives from the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigations Unit and the Special Investigations Unit were called out to investigate, due to the weapons stolen and the concern that these weapons were now on the street and posed a danger to both law enforcement and members of the public. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms agents were also involved in the case.

During the course of the investigation, detectives learned the guns might be at a trailer at Water’s Edge Trailer park. They also received information a white Nissan may have some of the guns in it.

Using an undercover operative, guns were purchased from the trailer in Water’s Edge Trailer park from 33 year old Jermaine Roberts. Roberts was subsequently arrested and charged with eight counts possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of ammunition by a convicted felon and dealing in stolen property.

The white Nissan was stopped on Summerland Key after a detective observed it to have illegal window tinting. A K-9 then alerted on the car, indicating the presence of drugs. In the trunk, detectives found three of the stolen guns. They also found 35 plastic bags of heroin. $3,143 in cash was seized from the vehicle occupants.

19 year old Andrew Riley of Cutler Bay, Florida was arrested and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, dealing in stolen property and trafficking in heroin. Romanique Williams, 18, of Miami was charged with dealing in stolen property and trafficking in heroin.

All three people were booked into jail. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms will be prosecuting this case federally. Roberts was further charged with violating his parole.

The investigation is continuing. Anyone with information about this case, or about the location of the remaining five weapons which have not yet been recovered, should call Crime Stoppers of the Florida Keys. If a tip leads to an arrest, the tipster would be eligible for a cash reward. The Crime Stoppers hot line number is 1-800-346-TIPS. Tips may be submitted anonymously on line at www.tipsubmit.com.

April 15, 2013

World War II era bomb recovered

An inert World War II bomb, badly corroded and with no explosives inside, was recovered from the shoreline at the end of old Boca Chica Road this weekend.

Reserve Bomb Squad Technician Bobby Randolph responded Sunday just after noon to a report that someone walking in the area had reported finding the device. He recovered it and determined it was no longer explosive. It was removed from the water and will be destroyed.

April 14, 2013

Two arrested for trafficking in Ecstasy

Key Largo – Suspicious activity led to the arrest of two upper Keys teens for trafficking in MDMA, also known as Ecstasy.

Deputy Matthew O’Neill was on patrol at 9:50 p.m. Saturday on Hibiscus Lane in Key Largo. He saw a blue car parked in an empty lot with two people inside. The vehicle’s lights were on and, when the deputy drove by, the vehicle’s lights abruptly turned off. To see what was going on, the deputy pulled behind the car with his overhead lights on.

When he approached the driver, he could smell the odor of marijuana coming from inside. He called for backup. The driver was identified as a 16 year old male from Islamorada. The deputy recognized the passenger as 19 year old Andre Whitehead of Key Largo, someone he’d had previous contacts with. Both of them were acting very nervous, shaking and moving around in the car.

Inside the car, the deputy found a Tupperware container with a crystal substance inside, later identified as MDMA. In three other containers were empty pill capsules. Inside another container were some of the pill capsules filled with the same crystal substance. A small amount of marijuana was also found.

Whitehead denied knowing about the substance, even though it was in the front seat, adjacent to where he was sitting. The 16 year old admitted he’d gotten the ecstasy from someone in North Miami Beach and intended to sell them for $15 a pill.

Both were arrested and charged with trafficking in MDMA and possession of drug paraphernalia. Whitehead was booked into jail and the 16 year old was detained by the Department of Juvenile Justice.

April 12, 2013

Two teens arrested for shooting incident

Stock Island – Two Stock Island teens are under arrest, charged with lying to police and tampering with evidence in connection with a fight which resulted in one of them being shot in the hand.

Deputies responded to 6500 Maloney Avenue, Trailer #31 at 4:45 p.m. Thursday to reports of a fight involving a firearm and possible shots fired. When they arrived, they found four young men at the trailer. One of them – 19 year old Kentrell Freeman - was bleeding from what turned out to be a gunshot wound to his left hand.

At first, Freeman told deputies he was walking his dog when he had a confrontation with a Hispanic man. He said he fought with the man and the man pulled out a gun. He said the gun went off, injuring his hand. The man then reportedly fled.

As more deputies and detectives arrived to assist, they began searching the area for the Hispanic attacker, going house to house concerned he might hurt someone else.

In the meantime, Detective David Cruz continued talking with the men originally found at the trailer. Others searched the area for the gun. A blood trail was found from the front of the trailer to the back yard. At the end of the blood trail they found then handgun which injured Freeman.

A witness was located who had videotaped the fight when the shooting occurred. The video showed Freeman fighting with one of the other men who were at the trailer when deputies showed up – 19 year old Trevon Albury. Albury is also Freeman’s cousin. At that point, Albury was detained and was confronted with the information in the videotape.

Albury admitted to fighting with Freeman. He said he saw the gun on the ground while they were fighting, tried to grab it and it went off, injuring Freeman. After Freeman was discharged from the hospital, he also was confronted with the information detectives had obtained. He said he and Albury were fighting over a girl. He said he saw the gun on the ground and picked it up. He said the two of them fell to the ground while fighting and the gun went off, shooting him in the hand. When asked why he didn’t tell the truth at the beginning, he replied “because I am young and dumb.”

Both men were arrested. Both were charged with obstructing a criminal investigation and tampering with evidence. Freeman was additionally charged with improper exhibition of a firearm and discharging a firearm in public. They were both booked into jail.

Traffic stop leads to drug arrest

*****The record of this arrest has been expunged*****

April 11, 2013

Military flare made safe by Sheriff’s Bomb Squad

A military flare brought in to shore on a dive boat was made safe by the Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad.

Reserve Deputy and Bomb Squad Technician Bobby Randolph responded to 100 Ocean Drive after Horizon Divers reported they’d found a big silver tubular device which looked like some kind of ordinance. They said it was floating in the water offshore of Key Largo and one of the divers on the boat had brought it onto the vessel. They transported it to shore and called the Sheriff’s Office at 10:45 a.m.

Once the Sheriff’s Office arrived, deputies evacuated the building and closed Ocean Drive as a precaution. The Bomb Squad responded and safely took custody of the device, which was a live military flare. Ocean Drive was reopened at 2:15 p.m.

Anyone who finds such an item in the water should take down coordinates and call to report its location. Such devices are not safe to handle without special training, so they should not be brought on board a boat and should not be transported to shore.

Detectives arrest FKCC students for marijuana

At the request of college administrators, detectives from the Sheriff’s Special Investigations Unit conducted a K-9 search at the Florida Keys Community College on Stock Island Thursday morning.
As a result of the search, one student was arrested after the dog found drugs in his room. A second student was issued a notice to appear in court for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Detectives, along with K-9 Deja searched dorm rooms on the campus. Deja alerted on Suite 310, which has four occupants with individual rooms. As they began searching the rooms, detectives located a prescription bottle with the name Alexandro Miguel Colon on it. Inside was three grams of marijuana. 18 year old Colon was arrested and charged with possession of marijuana on school grounds.

Detectives continued their operation. Deja alerted on Suite 202, which also has four individual rooms. They knocked on the door of a room belonging to Michelle Rae Lachance. Initially, no one answered the door. After repeatedly knocking on the door, detectives entered the room. K-9 Deja located two pipes that contained marijuana residue. La chance was issued a notice to appear in court for being in possession of drug paraphernalia on school grounds. Detectives and an FKCC maintenance person were monitoring the sewer outlet from the dorm rooms. During the search, a bag of marijuana was flushed into the sewer. Investigations into the origins of that marijuana are continuing.

April 9, 2013

Pembroke Pines man faces multiple charges

Key Largo – A Pembroke Pines man is in jail charged with battering his girlfriend, stealing her car and then burglarizing her house.

The victim called the Sheriff’s Office Saturday afternoon. When Deputy Michael Sielicki arrived at her home on Narragansett Lane at 5:45 p.m., she told him her boyfriend, 54 year old Robert Burns, had gotten violent with her. She said he was drunk and had left beer cans all over. When she began cleaning them up, and asked him to stop, he got angry. She said he broke a lamp and, when he began picking up the pieces he cut himself, which made him more angry.

She said she tried to call the Sheriff’s Office, but he took her phone and keys. At one point, she said he grabbed her around the throat and began choking her, then hit her in the face.

He finally left, taking her 2010 Mercedes SUV without her permission.

On Monday afternoon, the victim got a call from her neighbor. The neighbor told her Burns had returned, with her car, and was inside the victim’s house. She called the Sheriff’s Office and Deputy Michael Claudy responded. The Mercedes was parked underneath the house and a door on the lower level of the home was open. Burns was found inside, hiding in a closet. He claimed to have permission from his girlfriend to be there. While inside, he’d eaten a frozen dinner and had been watching television.

Burns was arrested. He was charged with battery, grand theft auto, burglary and theft and resisting arrest. He was booked into jail.

Islamorada burglar identified by blood left at the scene

Islamorada – Sheriff’s detectives say they have charged an Islamorada man after his blood was identified at the scene of the convenience store burglary.

When the owner of Tiny’s Convenience Store arrived at work at 6 a.m. on October 21st, he found the large front window of the store broken out and cigar boxes all over the floor. The suspect had apparently cut himself on the window because there was blood on the floor of the store, near a rack of cigarettes. More blood was found in the parking lot and there was a strong odor of bleach from where the suspect appeared to have tried to wash the blood away.

During the subsequent investigation, a man who works nearby told Detective Patrick Crozier 46 year old Thomas Phillips, who lives in the same neighborhood as he does, told him he had broken into the store. The witness said Phillips asked him if he thought bleach would “kill blood”, and told him all he’d gotten from the store was a bunch of cigarettes.

Blood collected at the scene was sent to the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. Recently, a report from FDLE revealed DNA from the blood was matched to Phillips, who was already in jail on other charges. Phillips was further charged with burglary, grand theft and criminal mischief.

Major Crimes Detective Dan Mehler received a tip from the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. Subsequent investigation revealed an IP address traced to a known sex offender, 64 year old Michael O’Shea Williams, who may have downloaded explicit images. Williams has a previous arrest and conviction for possession of child pornography.

A search warrant was obtained for his residence at 34 Avenue A in Key Largo. On Friday, the search warrant was served. A computer was seized; initial review of the computer revealed the presence of child pornography on it. Marijuana was also found in the kitchen.

While searching, detectives found what appeared to be a grenade in an outdoor laundry room. The grenade was safely handed over Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad Technician Sgt. Michael DiGiovanni. Sgt. DiGiovanni said the device turned out to be an Inert grenade that had already been rendered safe and was not explosive at the time it was found.

Assisting in service of the search warrant was the Sheriff’s Office Major Crimes, Narcotics and Swat Units, with assistance from FDLE, Customs and Border Protection, and the US Secret Service.

Williams was charged with 30 counts possession of child pornography and possession of marijuana. More charges may be pending in the case.

Jail operations temporarily interrupted when woman turns in grenades

A woman who wanted to turn in a number of grenades belonging to a deceased friend drove them to the Plantation Key jail Saturday. When she arrived, deputies had to cordon off the parking lot and surrounding area until the Bomb Squad could arrive and determine whether or not they were dangerous.

Bomb Squad Technician Sgt. Michael DiGiovanni responded to the Plantation Key jail and secured the four devices, which turned out to be inert military-style smoke grenades.

Sgt. DiGiovanni would like to remind people if they find such devices, not to try to transport them to the Sheriff’s Office. Instead, call us and, for safety reasons, the Sheriff’s Office will respond to the location where they are found.

“You never know if these types of devices are explosive, and you never know how unstable they might be,” he said. “Don’t handle them, and don’t try to transport them. We are extensively trained in how to deal with explosives. Call us and we will safely take care of whatever the device is.”

April 7, 2013

Deputy arrested on drug charges

Big Pine Key – Sheriff’s Office Special Investigations detectives arrested a deputy Saturday night after he purchased drugs from an undercover operative while on duty.

Acting on information developed in an investigation, detectives arranged for a cooperating defendant (CD) to meet with Deputy Jaime Miranda at 6:30 p.m. at the Winn Dixie shopping center on Big Pine Key. Miranda was on duty, and in a marked patrol car at the time of the meeting. A special agent from Homeland Security was assisting in the investigation.

During the meeting, the CD handed over 10 fake Oxycodone pills; Miranda agreed to pay him for the pills on Monday.

Shortly after the transaction took place, Detective Sgt. Al Ramirez met with Miranda, searching his patrol car. Inside, he found 9 and one quarter of the fake pills, and a further 12 Hydromorphone pills in the glove compartment. A pipe was found in his pants pocket with marijuana residue in it.

Deputy Miranda admitted to ingesting part of one of the pills right after the transaction took place. He also admitted to taking the Hydromorphone pills from his aunt’s residence without her permission.

Deputy Miranda was charged with conspiracy to purchase narcotics, possession of synthetic narcotics, possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was booked into jail.

An internal investigation into his actions is pending. Miranda is currently suspended from his employment with the Sheriff’s Office without pay.

Miranda is 30 years old. He was hired by the Sheriff’s Office in October of 2008 and has been working as a road patrol deputy in the Lower Keys district.

“The integrity, honesty and professionalism of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office is crucial to our ability to perform the job of law enforcement. I will not tolerate any behavior that compromises these values,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay.

“I am proud of the detectives who investigated this case. They did the right thing under difficult circumstances,” Sheriff Ramsay said.

Fire at Hawk’s Cay marina

Deputies responded Saturday morning to a fire at Tio’s Cantina at the Hawk’s Cay Marina on Duck Key.

When Deputy Alan Dixon arrived at 8 a.m. he saw heavy smoke coming from the restaurant. Staff on the scene told him no one was inside, and they had turned off the propane gas and the main electrical switch.

Fire fighters arrived and began to extinguish the fire. Deputy Dixon began clearing people from the immediate area for safety reasons.

The Fire Marshall will be investigating the cause of the blaze.

A deputy working traffic control at the scene was treated at Fishermen’s Hospital for smoke inhalation.

April 3, 2013

Reports of a gun at high school unfounded

Plantation Key – Sheriff’s deputies responded to Coral Shores High School Tuesday morning after third hand information surfaced that a student may have been bringing a gun to school.

School Resource Deputies James Jenkins, who is assigned to Coral Shores High School, and Larry O’Neill who is assigned to Plantation Key School across the highway immediately pulled the student from class after receiving reports he may have a gun in his backpack. No gun was found in the backpack or in the student’s locker and he denied ever bringing one to school.

Although the main incident only lasted about four minutes from start to finish, deputies from all around the area began responding immediately after Deputy Jenkins called it out over his police radio.

“We have been undergoing intensive school safety training, and everyone was ready in case this turned out to be the worst case scenario,” said Sheriff Rick Ramsay. “Fortunately, the report was unfounded. We are continuing to investigate to see if we can find out where this information came from and what the motivation for the report was,” he said.